T R AV E L ▲
SUN, SEA AND
CITY
THERE'S MORE TO THE
MED THAN TEEMING
RESORTS. NATALIE BOWEN
BLENDS THE BEACH WITH
SOME URBAN CHIC FOR
THE IDEAL BREAK
Valletta, Malta
This tiny rock in the Mediterranean has seen a surge in popularity
a ong tourists over the ast ve years. ever arketing and E
membership - it joined in 2004 and has received funding to improve
its roads and public buildings - mean Malta now welcomes millions of
visitors annua y. ut whi e the govern ent o this or er ritish
co ony is ooking to the uture its Ma tas ast that ca tivates trave ers.
Valletta, the capital, was built as a fortress city by the Christian
order the nights o t ohn in the
s.
ost a the bui dings
were constructed from pale cream limestone, which has aged
beauti u y to a gorgeous war honey co our.
CAFE CULTURE The city is easy to navigate as its streets
are laid out in a grid and it is on a peninsular, bordered
by the sea on three sides. browsed the sho s and
cafes lining Republic Street, the main thoroughfare,
VALLETTA IS A
before sitting in St George's Square with a delicious
TRANSPORT HUB,
istachio ge ato to watch the dancing ountains.
MAKING IT EASY TO
Facing the square is the impressive Presidential
VISIT THE FORMER
Palace, and I spent a few happy hours wandering
CAPITAL MDINA AND
around its rooms and armoury, learning about
OTHER SITES ACROSS
Malta's impressive military importance since
THE ISLAND.
edieva ti es. ust down the road is the ornate t
John's Co-Cathedral, a Catholic place of worship with a
stunning go d aro ue interior.
SECRET STREETS One of my greatest pleasures was
ex oring the stee s abbed streets that ead off the centra
district where i - e tin a etta residents ive. ashing is
strung across balconies, while books, clothes and everyday
essentials are sold in tiny, cramped shops with unpredictable
o ening hours. trait treet was the red ight district in
the th century but is now the best ace or bars o en
underground or hidden behind Malta's ubiquitous
wooden doors which are thrown o en as the sun sets.
Valletta has beautiful public gardens such as Hastings,
a thin stri
ed with trees which offers we co e shade
during the searing ugust heat and
er arrakka arden
that has striking views o the rand arbour and the hree ities.
asy a e
www.athomemagazine.co.uk AUGUST 2017 | 333

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